Outdoors

Most athletes or sports nuts have some type of superstition or ritual they go through each time before a game or activity. Some always dress the same way or wear the same piece of clothing. (We won't mention the unmentionables). But anglers probably have more superstitions, myths or rituals for fish catching - or at least attempting to catch - than anyone else.

Before the first fish was ever caught or at least immediately after, there was a superstition created. All types of anglers from commercial to pro to weekend folks for some reason have superstitions.

First let's look at the definition of superstition. Mr. Webster, in his latest edition, defines superstition as; beliefs or practices resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown or trust in magic or chance. Well, that definition seems a little harsh, after all most anglers I know are fairly intelligent. Of course I never met a fisherman or fisherwoman that didn't have a few quirks or timely adages about fishing.

Probably the most common superstition about fishing around this area has to do with the weather, or to be more precise wind direction. We've all heard the saying, “Wind from the east fish bite the least, wind from the west fish bite the best. Wind from the north do not venture forth, wind from the south, blows the bait into the fishes mouth.”

While the little rhyme may sound like an old tale or myth about fishing there could be some truth in it. After a cold front passes through the wind usually blows from the north. High barometric pressure settles in, the sky clears and the temperature drops. This sudden weather change causes the fish to move deeper and hold around cover. Also the conditions are not very favorable for the angler, either.

An east wind is usually the result of strong high pressure, again forcing the fish to move deeper. The high pressure affects the fish's air bladder and it becomes lethargic. Generally fish do not move around and search for food under a northerly or easterly wind.

On the other hand, a wind from the south or west indicates a coming change in the weather and the temperature usually rises. Fish can sense this change and begin to move around feeding more. The barometric pressure is falling, and the fish move shallower in search for food.

But, during most major bass tournaments, fish are caught in almost any weather condition or wind direction. So, is the superstition for real or just an excuse thought up by anglers years ago to cover up their poor performance on the lake?

Another superstition with fishing that probably originated with commercial fishermen years ago and has carried over even to today's bass tournaments is; no bananas on board the boat. The origin of this old superstition goes back to when the faster cargo ships carried bananas from the tropic regions to ports in the United States before the bananas could spoil. Since the banana boats were so fast the sailors trolling for fish never caught anything.

Another theory on the banana fishing conspiracy is that certain poisonous spiders would be in the banana bunches when loaded onto the boat. As the boat headed out to sea the spiders would begin to crawl all over the ship, biting the sailors and inflicting a deadly sting.

Some fishing superstitions can relate to the smallest of details. An old sea faring captain always had the cook hang the crew's coffee mugs facing the inside of the galley to keep the luck for spilling over the side.

Most fishing superstitions are handed down from previous generations of superstitious anglers. It could be some superstitions were created to give anglers something to talk about during the long hours between catches. Or some could have come about from a day of extraordinary fish catching the old fishermen wanted to do the same thing again on the next fishing trip.

Anyone that has been around fishing has heard or actually participated in some form a superstition.

“Don't throw back your first fish of the day or you're throwing your luck away,” says Brad Stone of Munford, talking about a superstition he heard growing up.

Another one among bass tournament anglers is, “It is back luck to catch a fish on the first cast of the day.” Once there was a pro that did just that in a major event. He immediately tossed the fish back in the drink. Needless to say he did not win the tournament.

A lot of fishing superstitions involve some type of clothing. A lucky hat, shirt or even underwear are specifically worn only on fishing days in hopes many fish will be caught. Chris Marker of Hokes Bluff says, “I always use my lucky fishing chair.”

Some fishing superstitions may actually have some merit. “Don't handle lures after pumping gas. Always wash your hands after applying sunscreen.” The reasoning is that any lingering odors will be transferred to the lures and the smell will be repulsive to the fish causing them not to bite.

Even pro bass anglers have some superstitions and rituals they go through before every tournament. FLW pro George Cochran of Arkansas performs a series of stretching exercises on the front deck of his boat before takeoff. Of course he does have a bad back from an old railroad injury.

Also, Cochran will not remove his landing net from the storage compartment until after the first fish is caught. Retired Missouri pro angler Basil Bacon always had the handle of his net facing forward in the boat. An old superstition among trout fishermen was they never wet their landing net until after the first fish is caught.

One of my favorite fishing superstitions from when I was a lad, was when driving to the lake if cows in the pastures were laying down the fish would not bite. But, if the cows were standing and grazing it would be a good fishing day. I always wanted to fish the same side of the lake where the cows were standing.

One thing fishing superstitions do is create a common bond between families and fishing buddies. You may soon forget about the big one that got away, but you will always remember the superstition of why.

Some old timers say it is bad luck to even talk about superstitions on fishing. Well, I hope that is one superstition that is not true.